STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Thanks to a group of persevering Good Samaritans, and with a little help from the Advance, a graveside service and burial will take place in Resurrection Cemetery for former Staten Islander David P. Johnson Sr., 71, of Akron, Pa.

Johnson died Christmas Day in Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, but was almost buried in an unmarked grave because the hospital could not locate his next of kin.

Initially, his closest friends in Pennsylvania, Bob and Jo-Ann Jennings and Terry and Barbara Eby, searched unsuccessfully online and by word of mouth, hoping to locate his son, David Jr., from whom he had been estranged. Having had no luck they reached out to the Advance, knowing from Johnson that he'd grown up and lived here before he moved to Pennsylvania.

After the Advance posted Johnson's photo and information on SILive.com and in the newspaper, old friends stepped forward with more information. Eventually Johnson's son, who grew up on Staten Island and works as a restaurant manager here, got in touch with Jennings in Pennsylvania, who filled him in on the situation.

The younger Johnson, 43, who now lives in New Jersey, said he last saw his dad 32 years ago -- he and his sister were raised by their mother after his parents divorced. The siblings are in touch, and Kristen Johnson, who lives on the North Shore, had been trying to find their dad for several years. Johnson also has three grandchildren whom he never got to know.

At first Johnson's son was reluctant to step forward, but after talking with Jennings several times, he decided to "do the right thing." "I had a Catholic upbringing, and I wanted to do the right thing," he said.

At the same time, Johnson's childhood friend, Island funeral director John Vincent Scalia Sr., also recognized him from the Advance, and contacted Jennings, offering to donate his services and a casket and arrange for burial in Resurrection Cemetery in Pleasant Plains. Jennings acted as a go-between Scalia and Johnson's son.

"We all grew up together in Westerleigh-Port Richmond and we used to get together and play ball at Immanuel Union Church, where they had a youth center," Scalia recalled.

Johnson was also a long-time member of the Beacon Light Lodge of Masons in New Dorp. His Masonic brothers, who also recognized him from the Advance, contacted Jennings, offering to do a Masonic rite of burial.

Scalia said a graveside service is scheduled for Johnson at 1 p.m. Thursday in Resurrection Cemetery. His son said he and his sister and their children are planning to attend.